Housatonic State Forest
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- See fee details
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- ctparks.com(860) 927-3238
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Housatonic State Forest is a forest in Northwest Hills Planning Region County, about 13 miles west of Torrington.
Visitors come for hunting in season, biking, hiking, and picnicking. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
Open Daily (8:00 a.m. – Sunset)
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Free | Free |
Official wording
Free
Connecticut park passes
- Passport to the Parks — free parking for CT-registered vehicles (funded by an $8/yr vehicle registration fee from July 1, 2025). Day-use parking at all CT State Parks and Forests Details
- Out-of-state vehicle season pass — $112. Season parking for out-of-state vehicles (as listed on park fee boxes) Details
From the Connecticut state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (connecticutstateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 1-877-668-CAMP (2267)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
BACKPACK CAMPSITE AND SHELTERS
Head into the backcountry and stay in one of the park’s two backpacking campsites along the Mohawk Trail — once part of the Appalachian Trail, before it was rerouted to the west side of the Housatonic. Sites available by reservation only. To reserve a permit, submit your application at least two weeks before your intended stay.
- Housatonic State Forest (Cornwall) Wickwire Lean-to and Deans Ravine Campsite Lean-to
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BikingCampingHikingHuntingPicnicking
Trails
Find letterboxing clues to enjoy during your hike.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Camping
- Tent camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
N/A
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
- Buses seating more than 30 passengers are not allowed at this park
- Trail Map
- Campground Map
ACCESS POINTS
The forest includes five distinct sections or “blocks”, each with different access points:
- Mine Mountain Block: Access via the Appalachian Trail.
- Sharon Mountain Block: From the junction of Route 7 and Route 128 in West Cornwall (opposite the Cornwall covered bridge), turn north on Route 7 and take an immediate left on West Cornwall Road. Follow 3.6 miles to the forest entrance on the right.
- Cream Hill Block: From the junction of Route 7 and Route 128 in West Cornwall, proceed east on Route 128 for 0.2 mile (passing through the covered bridge). Turn left on River Road and follow for 3.9 miles. Turn right on Music Mountain Road and follow 0.9 miles to the parking area on the left.
- Canaan Mountain Block: Access via Beckley Furnace State Park.
- Gold's Pines Block: From the junction of Route 128 and Route 125 in Cornwall, proceed west on Route 128 for 1.1 miles to the forest entrance on the left.
Getting there
- Address
- 90 US-Route 7
Sharon, CT 06069 - Nearest town
- Torrington — about 13 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.8390, -73.3786
- Phone
- (860) 927-3238
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Connecticut State Parks and Forests — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- DEEP 'Find a Park or Forest by Name' list (portal.ct.gov) merged with the ctparks.com ParkFinder search service
- Wikidata
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology